Strong Names 2018 Toy HOF Inductees

On November 8, The Strong Museum in Rochester, New York announced the newest inductees into the National Toy Hall of Fame.

Out of the 12 finalists – American Girl Dolls, chalk, Uno, Chutes and Ladders, Fisher-Price Corn Popper, Pinball, the Magic 8 Ball, Masters of the Universe, sled, tic-tac-toe, Tickle Me Elmo, and Tudor Electric Football – only three iconic toys made it into the Hall of Fame.

After being nominated seven times the answer finally came up a YES for the Magic 8 Ball. In its second year as a finalist the card game Uno and the bar and game room staple the Pinball game will join the iconic toys on display on the second floor of The Strong Museum.

The fortune-telling toy the Magic 8 Ball was first introduced to audiences in 1946. It allows players to pose a question, shake the ball, and receive an answer to their question – hopefully the answer they seek. The iconic toy has even appeared on television in “The Dick Van Dyke Show”, “Friends”, and “The Simpsons”.

Uno is Spanish and Italian for the number one. It is also the name of a card game created by a barber in Ohio by the name of Merle Robbins. With the object of the game to end up with just a single card – Uno – the game is easy enough for children but is also of interest to adults; making it suitable for the whole family. Since the game’s creation, it has seen numerous variations including Elvis, Disney, and Hello Kitty versions.

While its origins can be traced by to 18th century France and the table game bagatelle, the Pinball machine made it debut in 1931 as a coin operated game. Over the years, the game has featured numerous variations and upgrades. In its heyday, it was seen as the sign of stardom and a true master when a player could go for hours on a single coin.

Since 1998 The Strong has been the home of the National Toy Hall of Fame. The various items in the Hall of Fame range from a simple cardboard box and Linus’ blanket to building and artistic toys. The toys in the Fall of Fame are recognized as being iconic for their longevity, educational content and inspiration toward creative play.

Located near downtown Rochester, New York in Manhattan Square; The Strong features exhibits dedicated toward exploration and play, along with numerous interactive displays to awe and inspire. There is even a mini Wegmans grocery store on the premises where visitors can shop, stock, or operate the cash registers.

The Strong is the home to the National Toy Hall of Fame the World Video Game Hall of Fame, and the International Center for the History of Electronic Games

Photo credits: Courtesy of The Strong®, Rochester, New York

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Sherrill is an award winning journalist who has been writing for 30 years. She has had thousands of works published in print and online. She also provides the photography for many of her articles.
When not writing, she enjoys music, reading, and art.
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